Welcome to Passion for Christ, a ministry of Utah Partnerships for Christ. In Acts 26, 18, Jesus said, Paul's purpose was to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light. and from the power of Satan unto God. that they may receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. We hope you'll join us for today's testimony of lives changed by the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Now let's begin today's episode. Welcome to Passion for Christ. This is Russ East, your host, and I'm with my friend Brody Olson. Brody has a very unique ministry in southern Utah. Brody, would you share with our listeners?
about where in the St. George, Utah area Are you doing ministry? Yeah, hey Russ. Yeah, I we actually live on the Utah side of the Arizona and Utah border in a place called Hilldale. Utah.
Less than an hour from St. George. And it's right on the border, and in fact, our ministry center is in a place called Colorado City, Arizona, which is less than two miles. miles from my house.
So we're a border community, formerly known as Short Creek. But uh yeah, that's where you live. And so the Lord called you to go to this place that is known for many years as a place where. I guess you could say it was like a breakoff of the mainstream Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. uh formed kind of like what would you call it like a a community basically And they had their own profit and so forth.
Is that an accurate way to put it? Yeah, that's right. They felt like that the LDS to the mainstream church at the time had given up on one of the core principles of The faith and the They felt it was their responsibility, in fact, divine calling. to maintain the practice. polygamy throughout all generations.
since they weren't well accepted in some Lake and go. around the areas. off-grid so they Lonely place in the desert called uh the later named Short Creek. And that's where we are and their primary responsibility. was to maintain the practice of looking at We need throughout all the generations.
And the Lord has called you. you uh to to get a local church going and basically you're right there in the heart of the Hilldale Short Creek area, right there where Warren Jeffs used to have dominant control over that area. That's right. Yes, we decided in twenty twelve um to come out and and uh see if we could plant a church out there and And we knew that the people were needing the gospel, of course, and that there had never been a gospel witness.
So God called us to His. Yeah. what we can what what would happen and uh So that was a It it became pretty custom ministry. Um, try to figure out ways to reach out and in very unique ways and then got a lot of To the time to be able to plant a church out here. Right.
And then, so, was Tri-Grace Ministries with Chip Thompson, Chip and Jamie Thompson? Was that kind of like the. like the support that gave you kind of the springboard. Into getting this church planted, or did you go with like another kind of an association of churches? Yeah Chip and Jamie and their ministry at Trigrace Or instrumental in us coming out here.
Now they're not part of our support system And they're not necessarily a group that we planted with However, it was our experience there in Edrum uh with chip and jingle that got Both my wife and I interested in something. back out this direction. And then they were also instrumental Because when I was finishing that seminary I really thought that we would plant a church in Provo. very interested in Cold miss. And even went to visit you on that tour.
Um to see as to where we might be at best. Help. And after visiting Colorado City, which was on the last leg of our trip. We realized that there was.
So Chip and Jamie were instrumental in that. out here for a lot of reasons and and gave us the passion. for the ministry out here and also She Colorado City is a possibility of where a place where a church might actually get planted. Right, praise the city. In the process of all of that, it forced us to Look into Yeah.
was going to send us, which ended up being the Ephraim Church of the Bible, which was our home church before. winter seminary. and then going finding another mission agent.
So that that would be totally independent. Of our triggering. And so, and so, just to kind of even go back a little bit, was it a mission trip that you did with what's the name of the school? Laterno? Did you come out from Laterno?
No, but my wife did.
Okay. We weren't married at the time. Um Well I It's a great story. In fact, she Tell us of the time it was the first time. Yeah.
Chip had made an effort to come into Colorado City. It was quite eerie. A lot of the kids Apparently, they would see these Gentiles coming down the street, and they would run for their lives inside their houses, lock the doors, close the shutters. That kind of activity. And Liz remembered very distinctly.
as she was walking through the community. and they were kind of Yeah. for people as they were walking. She just prayed to God with her. Would one day bring a Christian church in this community.
grateful that it was not going to be her.
Okay, yeah. The Lord knew that you'd be coming along. And so, did she come out with Laterno University with Chip Thompson, or did she come out? with Utah Partnerships for Christ back in the day. Um I don't know specifically.
It was their very first time out here, so they couldn't do a barbecue or anything, but it was the first. They just handed out seed packets and I Can't quite remember who's.
Okay, well one or the other. We were working together. I know Chip and Jamie are a real blessing and So as as this moved along and the Lord uh Just moved you guys to come out to Utah. Can you share maybe some Bible verses? That have helped to keep you strong in the Lord.
Maybe does one come to your mind? It might be your favorite verse or just something that, you know, in the tough times. And uh even in the good times What's what's one passage that has been an an encouragement to you. Yeah, you know, I would say there's two passages. Did I think of when I When I think of that, um, the first is in the Old Testament, and it's uh Psalm 16:11.
It's one of my favorite verses. made known to me the path of life. You will fill me with joy in your presence. With eternal pleasures at your right hand. And I think that.
What keeps me going is realizing that we We are doing exactly what God has called us to do. And that The joy and the delight comes from the from serving hand, even regardless of the challenges that come of it. out of time. And that's the best thing that we could do with There's a glorified. God with it and There is no question in my mind about that.
So even if in the difficult times, that really keeps me. going and And then another thing I think of, another verse has got to be in Ephesians chapter 1. before when um Paul is saying that He gave some to the Um a parcel of Prophets, evangelists, teachers, and pastors to prepare God for the works of service so that the body of Christ may be built up. I hate it. God had this here.
As a gift to the church as they can started and um um like But we we We make mistakes along the way, we struggle. Uh in turkey. Plenty is not an easy task. But It's what God has designed to be. And now we have the responsibility.
and opportunity. to be able to protect the church as much as we can. while at the same time trying to add to the church and what God is doing through evangelism. and things. And so I see that my job here is Very important.
God can replace me in a minute if you want. wants to. Uh but I see it as something It's not something you just Easily decide. Yeah. But also not nor did he decide to leave it either.
He just It's funny when you said Psalm 1611. That is the passage that I I put at the end of many of my text messages to my friends. I'm not kidding you, that's that's that's my favorite lifetime verse, you know? And so, yeah, it I I always try to If I have a chance to give a devotional on that, well, I could get started with right now because that idea of a path, thou, God, will show me the path of life. And it's a path that you don't know the whole destination necessarily, or even the different markers after five miles, you can't see that far.
But you can see the path. You know, that is something that he will show you. And all those promises there are just so amazing, and the enemy wants to. Try to discourage us and so.
So, what might be like a, would you want to share maybe not the details of names and so forth, but. Maybe some just to give some people out there because one of the next questions I'm going to ask you is how can other people be involved? There might be somebody out there listening in Ohio or in North Carolina or Utah here, and they want to maybe come down and bring their mission team to visit you guys or something. But before we get there, We want to find out how people can encourage you and support you, even financially and prayerfully. But would you want to share, like, just to give some reality check?
You know, maybe a high point and a low point. We'll be right back for the rest of today's testimony. Please know we at Utah Partnerships for Christ have been planting seeds of the gospel in Utah for over 24 years. We welcome any questions you may have and invite you to visit our website You obtain a list of words and definitions that would help you understand how Mormons think and how to be able to better witness to your friends who belong to the Mormon Church. That website is www.
Dot U P F Fc.org. That's you. You Efc.org. We'll be right back. Welcome to Passion for Christ, a ministry of Utah Partnerships for Christ.
In Acts 26, 18, Jesus said, Paul's purpose was to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light. and from the power of Satan unto God. that they may receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. We hope you'll join us for today's testimony of lives changed by the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Now let's begin today's episode. Yeah, Russ, I think those are great questions. I think some of the Um the most pivotal times in our ministry is just to be able to. Key the god Uh okay. Let me restart with that, Ruff.
I think that one of the things that God has done in this community If he has placed us here, at really a pivotal time in the history of this Community. We are so involved in developing this community in terms of like God is using us to Start it first. Start a use center. or start a church and get involved in different committees in the community because just a rebuilding phase.
So many of the people have left The FLDS that it It's a community now of a cost base. There's like maybe three percent of the community is still FLDF.
So there's not much. Wow. And so So we're really tasked with walking alongside people and being involved in the rebuilding of this And so I would take some of the highlights of our ministry here. been to see not just to see if Salvation. But um all too many starts.
the live chain. Um with the gospel. one in particular. Little, um woman See the She has been coming to our church for a number of years now. I asked Karis.
They shared her testimony, she had like three moms, they were all living in different houses, but Think there's a 40 plus fibers. that she has as well. And I asked you just Yeah. Mm-hmm. How could I not?
Because I thought I just thought she wouldn't do it. It's a scary thing. How could I not? She Yeah, okay. Much as God has done for me.
I share about him. in my life. And I think We've seen a lot of that happen while we've been in the ministry, but Um but to be uh The other thing is that we has seen a lot of change in kids in our ministry in Devoted to really be used in waterways. That's kind of our niche, I guess, if you could say it that way. We have a youth ministry where we give the gospel out Uh probably a dozen times to every week.
To kids through these lessons that we provide, and that is a huge. tie point for me. We're actually So if mm Let me share one story. My son was Hmm. school and he pulls out his lunch and out comes this napkin where it does Jesus loves you, my wife put it.
Yeah. And so the person that was sitting next to him couldn't believe it. Because who is it? He's a guy. wow, this very religious community, their parents have decided Yeah.
them telling them anything about the Bible, Jesus God, or anything. Wow. Those are the people that we interact with now through our youth center. We're giving them the gospel. Tell them the Bible story.
doing this regularly with a lot of kids. in that is because we started a youth center. here and and we're able to reach the youth in a lot of ways.
So so really great. The challenge is Um you know not knowing their not having a large Christian. population that's always difficult. Pole. Um having enough people to maintain The work of the ministry.
Yeah. said we have three components which Is the the thrift store, the youth center and the church. trying to to keep all of those afloat and um People encourage in them is a Little bit of a challenge at times, and so nobody really wants to move out in the middle of the desert. Like moving to northern Utah, where there's a lot of opportunity, but not in a small town so much.
So that's always a challenge is getting people who would be willing to serve, even give their lives for the sake of the ministry out here.
So that's probably some of the bigger challenges that we've faced and some isolation But it but by God's grace, you know. Room felt too. lonely we've had a lot of churches They provide some emotional support that are in St. George Herk. Area, and so God has been gracious in that as well.
Wow. And so when you say uh a rural area, um are I mean, how far is it to your nearest grocery store? Is it do you have grocery stores in in the town or Is it super rural in that sense? Um it's not that rural. I would we do have a grocery store here.
That began in the fifteen. They shut down when More than just beginning. shutting every all the businesses. And then And so we lost. Basically everything for a couple of years and then Wow.
and invested money to build a grocery store. about five years ago. Just for the past five years we've had the local grocery store, which has been nice.
So the community is maybe about Sixty five hundred people. Mm. Um so a lot of the major amenities in Russia Stuff like it, you don't get that out here for sure. Anything, so yeah, but but it's it's It's cost not the same. York, but it's a it's um it's pleasant enough.
Um but yeah, we don't have a lot of And you know, for example, We didn't even have to When they started a football team here, that was like brand new concept. Wow. Baseball that no one's ever played, so there's Starting baseball for the first time a couple years ago. They've kind of been playing volleyball and basketball. Bulk water waving the are sports that the FLBS would play regularly, but a lot of these sports that are common in our high schools.
We don't have like youth programs or anything like that, and just barely got them in the high school.
So, right. Yeah, those are some of the challenges I get. And so your your general population in the constituenc constituency that you serve, uh, maybe like, what, three thousand, four thousand, five thousand people? Um Or smaller? Along with the survival.
Rounding region, we're about So Colorado City. Kildal alone We're probably 5,500 people. And then you have stintes. which is just a couple of miles to the south. There's about a thousand people there and and stuff.
So yeah, we're we're we're on sixty People. Right. So if we were to even want to touch on some buzzwords like the lost boys or. talk more about uh like, you know, the T V sh series that used to be airing. I don't I don't know if it's on anymore, but like Sister Wives and the book Under the Banner of Heaven.
I mean, this is all kind of the stuff that that has have has had an impact On Colorado City and Hilldale to some degree, maybe not directly, but. But if anybody out there Is listening right now and they want to pray for Brody and his wife and just his family and just the Christian church out there. Boy, understand this is the kind of context where God has called the Olson family. And so this is this is an amazing thing that only God could do to give someone strength and give those promises, like Psalm 16, 11, to just keep walking. Trust God.
And so, as we come to a close, um Would you want to share how people could maybe even be invited to come alongside you and maybe Provide some financial support, receive some communications from you by way of an email. or um web go to your website. Feel free to take a few minutes and just develop that. And how could people come out on a mission trip, pray for you?
so on so forth. Yeah. Well, you're right, Ruth. ground zero for all the crazy stuff you've heard about with the FLGFs and Warren JS and a lot of the polygamy, Madness that we going on here. Yeah, when we were first here, we were definitely shunned, and people didn't.
I always tell people, they ask me, what was it like when you first? moved out here. I said, Well, have you ever gone to a birthday party or something like that? and realize you weren't actually invited. Oh no, yeah.
Yeah, we have a We felt very Unwelcome.
Now people wouldn't be hostile toward us. or anything but they would just kind of pretend like we don't exist.
So yeah, there's been a lot of I think that's a good idea. Yeah. Controls only a small part of the community at this point in time.
So it's given us a lot of opportunity with the local population we didn't have before. We just didn't have access to But now we do. And so, the best ways that we determined to reach out to the community is through this use. I'd already mentioned and the thrift store. because so many will be kicked out and didn't have the funds or the ability to to even provide clothing or something.
Wow. In terms of helping out. would say we would appreciate um internships as a possibility.
Okay. We we need a lot of help with our youth center. It's a lot of it's just about having warm bodies who are willing to Uh communicate great. Yeah. their the way they interact with the kids and the work that they and doing the lessons and stuff with Mm-hmm.
So if somebody would ever be interested in moving out here or serving an internship, that would probably be Moving out here as a ministry partner. No, but that's good. be a huge help because we have a lot of needs. We have a lot of opportunities really. And so that would be one way.
Um And then if you're close and want to Uh we need like furniture. and larger appliances sort of things for our thrift store, those are easy ways to be able to donate Maybe even visit the ministry at the same time. Rather than getting rid of them through. People can can drive them down there. You know, you church.
can take out a collection or something like that.
So another way financially donating toward the ministry is an opportunity as well. What we've tried to do is create Can that present? of activity for kids.
So we've got these center, as I mentioned, we have an outdoor basketball court. And what we're looking to do next is to begin to fund a grass. A large grass field and an indoor kind of rec area. Yeah. pretty simple.
It's not gonna be a a lot of um And uh interior. features is just basically Something. An overhang for a basketball corporate. about Cornelius.
So that's the next project. Protect it from the sun or the snow or maybe not snow, but protect it from the sun and the rain and things like that, maybe. Yeah. Summers are just so brutal out there. And then when it's windy it it can be pretty rough out here as well with dirt blowing everywhere and So It's just kind of a The best way to do that is just go to our website, Grant.
Rice Rain dot org G R A C E-R-E-I. S grace reigns dot org. And there's a donation link there that would be a great help for us, too.
So as we try to make the next steps to making this really the place where kids want to be. And so. Wow. Well, thank you so much for taking time out and sharing with us about gracereins.org. That's Grace G-R-A-C-E, then R-E-I-G-N-S, allone word.org.
That's where you can make a one-time gift. If you've been listening, you've just been stirred and you've been encouraged, then show that to Brody maybe sometime. Pray about that. Just go on the website and make a donation. I want to thank you.
I'm going to have to sign off for now, but thank you, Brody, for being on Passion for Christ. And thank you for listening. We'll see you again next week right here. On this good station, thanks for joining us on Passion for Christ. Before we sign off for today, please know that all of us here at Utah Partnerships for Christ.
appreciate your prayers and support. We are also available to do Zoom call workshops or personal coaching on reaching Mormons for Christ. Contact us today at upfc dot org. That's upfc.org. Thanks so much for joining us on another edition of passion for Christ.
